Marszalek wins library award

History professor and author John F. Marszalek recently won the Outstanding Southeastern Author Award from the Southeastern Library Association.

The award honors his most recent book, "The Petticoat Affair: Manners, Mutiny and Sex in Andrew Jackson's White House." Published by The Free Press of New York, the 320-page book deals with the scandals surrounding Margaret Eaton, wife of President Jackson's secretary of war, John Henry Eaton.

Snubbed by 19th century Washington, D.C., society for perceived sexual improprieties, Mrs. Eaton had Jackson as one of her staunchest defenders. However, one of her biggest detractors was the wife of Vice President John C. Calhoun.

The bitter and escalating dispute led to a split between Jackson and Calhoun. Ultimately, Jackson forced the resignation of his entire cabinet, in the process nearly ruining his first term.

The SLA awards recognize authors in Southeastern states for current works of merit. Marszalek's book won in the non-fiction category.

In a related matter, he recently contributed to an op-ed piece for the New York Times entitled "Can Clinton Find the Road Back?" Joining Marszalek with their views on how the president might make a comeback were Mario M. Cuomo, former governor of New York; Lyn Nofziger, aide to Ronald Reagan; Alan Brinkley, history professor at Columbia University; William F. Buckley Jr., editor at large of "The National Review"; and Donald Trump, real estate developer and author of "Trump: The Art of the Comeback."

Marszalek joined the MSU faculty in 1973.